Video: Controlling orphans and widows with Keep Options

I've laid out this page, but I'm not exactly happy about how the text is flowing from one column to the next. Let me show you what I mean. At the top of this column, there is a single line, the last line of a paragraph. That's called a widow, and it's not pleasant to see it,. Not good typography at all. So we want to get rid of those widows and we can do it with the Keep Options. Let me show you what I mean. I'll place my cursor inside that paragraph. I'll go to the Control panel flyout menu and I'll choose Keep Options.

Author David Blatner provides in-depth training on InDesign CS5, the print and interactive page layout application from Adobe, in InDesign CS5 Essential Training. The course shows how to create new documents with strong and flexible master pages, precisely position text and graphics, prepare documents for print, and export designs as interactive PDF or Flash SWF files. Exercise files are included with the course.

Controlling orphans and widows with Keep Options

I've laid out this page, but I'm not exactly happy about how the text is flowingfrom one column to the next.Let me show you what I mean.At the top of this column, there is a single line, the last line of a paragraph.That's called a widow, and it's not pleasant to see it,. Not good typography at all.So we want to get rid of those widows and we can do it with the Keep Options.Let me show you what I mean.I'll place my cursor inside that paragraph.I'll go to the Control panel flyout menu and I'll choose Keep Options.

The Keep Options dialog box lets me control the behavior of this paragraph.In this case, I wanted to keep some lines together, so I'll turn on the KeepLines Together checkbox.I can tell it to keep all the lines in the paragraph together.But if I do that, it won't break over the column at all.So I just wanted to keep two lines at the beginning and two lines at the endtogether. The rest can break where they may.Because the Preview checkbox is turned on, I can see this update immediately inthe background and I can see that there's two lines at the top of the columnhere, which looks a lot better.

I'll click OK and take a look at the spread. I can see another problem at thebottom of this column, a single line, a heading that I really wish was uphere at the top of the next column along with the paragraphs that follow it.Well, I can take care of that.I place my cursor inside the paragraph, press the keyboard shortcutCommand+Option+K or Ctrl+Alt+K and bring up the Keep Options dialog box.In this case, I am going to turn Keep Lines Together, although it really won'tdo any good, because there's only a one- line paragraph, but I always turn thaton for headings because I don't want the heading to break across the column.

Then I'm going to increase the Keep with Next field.I want it to keep with the next one line. In other words, keep with the next paragraph.The Preview checkbox is turned on and I can see it had exactly the effect I wanted.It's staying with the following paragraph.Instead of using the Keep with Next, I could have placed my cursor in thefollowing paragraph and used Keep with Previous, but in this case, it was easierto set the heading to keep with the following paragraph.So that's what I did.By the way, since I have this dialog box open, I do want to point out the StartParagraph popup menu.

This is how you can tell a paragraph to start at the beginning of a column orbeginning of a page.I can even set it to begin at the beginning of the next odd page.That's very helpful for things like chapter headings.But in this case, I'm going to leave it set to Anywhere and click OK.In general, you would want to set up your Keep Options inside your paragraphstyles, but that's a topic for another chapter.The important thing is now you know how to stamp out those single lines at thetop or bottom of your column with Keep Options.

Q: In the “Exporting to PDF” video, the author states "The flattener, and how to control it, is an advanced topic that I cover in a later title."
Is this “later title” available on lynda.com yet?

A: Unfortunately that title is still in development. However, the features are exactly the same in CS4, so please see Chapter 11 in InDesign CS4 Beyond the Basics.

Q: Can an image be placed into a cell in InDesign?

A: Yes, but only as an anchored (inline) object. Cut the frame with the Selection tool, switch to the Type tool, click in the cell, and Paste.

Q: Is it possible to load or import pages from one document to another in InDesign CS5?

A: Pages cannot be “loaded”, but they can be "pushed" from one document to another by choosing Layout > Pages > Move Pages.

Q: When I place an image, it is distorted or pixilated to the point of not being able to use it. I can place or open those same images in Photoshop or Illustrator and they are fine.

A: You are likely seeing the low-resolution preview. To see high resolution or vector artwork, choose View > Display Performance > High Quality.

Q: When I place an image, it is distorted or pixilated to the point of not being able to use it. I can place or open those same images in Photoshop or Illustrator and they are fine.

A: You are likely seeing the low-resolution preview. To see high resolution or vector artwork, choose View > Display Performance > High Quality.

Q: I'm looking for a tutorial that will allow me to use InDesign to create files that can be emailed. I guess they have to be converted to HTML first? Is that possible?

A: If you are trying to make an HTML email, then InDesign really isn't the tool for you. It's HTML abilities are extremely limited. Look toward Dreamweaver for that. Alternatively, you could create a layout in InDesign, then export the page as a JPEG image and put that in the email.

Q: Since I upgraded to the new version of InDesign, when I click the "edit original" button in the Links panel, the pictures open in Preview instead of Photoshop

A: If you are using the Mac OS, you may need to turn off Window > Application Frame in order to see files behind InDesign (such as those on the Finder Desktop). If you are on Windows, you are seeing a difference between Mac and Windows. In Windows, the application is always living inside the application frame. If you un-maximize the windows frame, you can drag it smaller so you see the desktop and drag to or from it.

Q: I am currently working on an InDesign document originally created in Spanish. I am translating it to English and I need to change the language preference to be able to use the spell check in English. I have changed it in Preferences, but when I go to do the spell check on the document it is still in Spanish. How can I change the spell check to English?

A: Changing the language in preferences does not change the document or text language. You need to change the langauge in the paragraph style or the character style or in the Character panel or the Control panel (select the text first).

Q: In the movie, "Inserting, deleting, and moving pages" the author claims you can Shift-click text and the red overset symbol (a plus sign) will disappear. This isn't working for me.

A: Shift-clicking to make text automatically flow to the next text box or boxes only works when you place text from a loaded cursor. Shift-clicking existing text will not affect it.

Instead, if the overset text symbol appears in an existing text frame, choose the Selection tool and click the symbol to load the text in your cursor. Then Shift-click inside the next text frame to start it auto-flowing from there.

Q: I want to add a 2-page spread following a 1-page spread, but when I insert two new pages, InDesign creates a 3-page spread. How do I solve this?

Q: The keys used for navigating to the previous or next spread in a layout (Command+Page Up/Command+Page Down) don't appear on my laptop keyboard and the arrow keys don't work. What keys should I use?

A: Most laptop keyboards don't have these keys anymore. Look for a "modifier" key (such as the Alt or Fn keys) to press to access these keys. For example, on a Macbook Pro, you'd press Command and then Fn+Up Arrow to invoke Next Spread.

Sorry, there are no matches for your search "" —to search again, type in another word or phrase and click search.

Learn by watching, listening, and doing, Exercise files are the same files the author uses in the course, so you can download them and follow along Premium memberships include access to all exercise files in the library.

Already a member ?

Learn by watching, listening, and doing! Exercise files are the same files the author uses in the course, so you can download them and follow along. Exercise files are available with all Premium memberships.
Learn more

Upgrade to our Annual Premium Membership today and get even more value from your lynda.com subscription:

“In a way, I feel like you are rooting for me. Like you are really invested in my experience, and want me to get as much out of these courses as possible this is the best place to start on your journey to learning new material.”— Nadine H.

Thanks for signing up.

We’ll send you a confirmation email shortly.

Sign up and receive emails about lynda.com and our online training library:

new course releases

newsletter

general communications

special notices

Here’s our privacy policy with more details about how we handle your information.

Keep up with news, tips, and latest courses with emails from lynda.com.

Sign up and receive emails about lynda.com and our online training library:

new course releases

newsletter

general communications

special notices

Here’s our privacy policy with more details about how we handle your information.